- South Korea has added 11 new King Sejong Institutes in 2024, bringing the global total to 252 centers across 87 countries.
- New centers will open in nine nations, including Egypt, China, Uzbekistan, Germany, Italy, and the Philippines, to meet growing demand for Korean language education.
- The government aims to expand to 350 centers by 2030, as global interest in Korean culture and language continues to surge.
South Korea has selected 11 more King Sejong Institutes for government support this year as part of the country's attempts to further spread Korean language and culture around the world, the culture ministry announced Monday. The additions bring the number of King Sejong Institute language learning centers to 252 around the world in 87 nations.
Dedicated to the 15th-century Joseon Dynasty king who created the Korean alphabet, Hangeul, the new centers are spread across nine nations two in Egypt, six in five Asian countries, including China, Uzbekistan and the Philippines, and one each in Germany, Italy and Hungary.
Egypt, whose sole center at the Korean Cultural Center in Cairo would become two more at Ain Shams University in Cairo and Alexandria University. Over 1,280 individuals are already waiting on a list to take classes there.
Uzbekistan, with already seven King Sejong centers, opened another as demand for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) increased. According to last year's figures, over 12,000 Uzbek students were studying at colleges and universities across South Korea.
A record 94 institutions from 43 countries submitted applications to gain designation this year, the largest ever, as international interest in Korean language learning continues to increase in the wake of Korea's popular culture going global.
The King Sejong Institute Foundation carries out its program by subsidizing locally launched Korean language education programs around the globe, including those operated by universities. It takes applications and certifies approved institutes as King Sejong Institutes.
It started with 13 King Sejong Institutes in three nations in 2007, beginning with Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and supported only 740 students during its initial year. Since the inception of the foundation in 2012, enrollment has expanded notably, reaching over 210,000 students globally in 2023. The government plans to expand the number of centers to 350 by 2030.
